Ex-Kölner in an interview
© Football Association Sambia
Moses Sichone ran for five professional clubs in Germany. He left a lasting impression, especially at 1st FC Köln and Alemannia Aachen, where he developed into a crowd favorite. In an interview with the transfer market, the former central defender tells funny anecdotes from his Cologne and Aachen times with Dirk Lottner or Giovane Élber, but is also serious. He also talks about his commitment in his homeland Sambia.
Moses Sichone has been working as an assistant coach of the Sambian national team since 2022. When he talks, the young talents listen above all because he has experienced what many of them want: a career in the Bundesliga. In order to get the radar of German clubs, the Africa Cup upcoming in a few months can be helpful. For Sicherone, the largest football tournament in Africa was the starting point for his career.
The ex-professional sometimes wonders what would have become of him if he had not been discovered by scouts at the time. “To this day, the Africa Cup is a big springboard for African talents. I am just grateful that I got this great chance. I couldn’t really realize the offer at the time because everything went so quickly. Cologne changed.
Two important caregivers from the start were the then head coach Ewald Lienen and sports director Hannes Linßen. “Ewald and Hannes are two absolutely heart -hearted people. When I had homesickness in the initial phase, Hannes let me talk to my family from his phone for hours. Ewald was also important that we learned German as quickly as possible. Almost every day, all foreign players had German lessons. My first words and sentences were in German: ‘unbelievable’, ‘not to be grasped’. Words and sentences used in every training session.
Sicone over the beginning at 1. FC Köln: “Was shocked”
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The former defender quickly noticed that he did not live in any German city, but in an absolutely football -crazy metropolis. “If you can’t do one thing in Cologne, then without being addressed through the city. No matter in which district I was on the road, I was always addressed, about my game, the next game, on the overall situation in the club. No matter whether from small children or the nice grandpa next door, everyone was excited with the effze.
For the sambian international, the leap to Effzeh and especially in the cathedral city was comparable to the first visit to a amusement park, as it was killed by the multitude of impressions. “When I first saw the training cabins and especially the training ground, I was shocked. The lawn looked like a carpet, every single grass stood. In Cologne I was able to choose my own from a range of football shoes. In Zambia I played barefoot until my 14th year and the first football shoes that I got, I said,” he said, “he said,” Laughing.
With a rather more serious tone, he adds: “There were players in Cologne who sorted out their football shoes when they only had a little hole. I then collected them and took them to Zambia. Sometimes I had the feeling in Germany that people did not know what luxury they were in Cologne, I have the dissatisfaction of some people. I thought a mood through the area.
Moses Sichone 2000 in the jersey of the 1st FC Cologne
While many experts sicure wrote down from the start and nothing more than a backup role, he fought for a place in the starting XI. “The competition was great, no question, but I had a great self-confidence. I always said that I have been living for this dream since childhood and would like to continue to fulfill this dream, I have trained accordingly. I was able to deal well with the pressure that you have as a football professional. But honestly, every person has pressure in his job, whether bakery, car mechanic or football professional. The love for the job.
But there was an exception: a game against Chemnitz FC. “We were already warned by Ewald Lien that the people in Chemnitz were not yet tolerant enough. But what we experienced was incredible. With every touch of the ball, Pascal Ojigwe and I whistled, were really offended. After the game, I was sitting in the cabin, cried and just stared on the floor. I really asked myself what was wrong with me and my skin color I have to say clearly that we would have liked more support from the DFB in this phase, but nothing came back, ”Sichone looks back.
Sichone about the worst opponent Élber and culture shock carnival
Already in his debut season, the central defender and his teammates were able to celebrate the promotion and thus return to the Bundesliga. To this day he raves about cohesion within the team. “We really had a horny group together. With Dirk Lottner I had the best player of my career by my side. He had a football quality that was brutal. If one could shoot free kicks from all positions, then he. But he also had other qualities, especially when it came to celebrating. Holds.
In his first Bundesliga season, Sichone also met the worst opponent of his career. “I had no chance against Giovane Élber, he was freezing cold and a machine at the same time. He only needed a gap and immediately rang the rang in the goal. The games against Bayern Munich were always an absolute highlight. My stepfather was a big Lothar Matthäus fan. After one of our games, Matthäus was in the stadium, but I didn’t dare to speak to me. Helped that even organized an old jersey from Matthäus.
Sicone 2002 in a duel with Giovane Élber
When asked about the funniest experience outside of sport, he immediately remembered the first contact with the carnival. “At that time we celebrated in the Klapzmühle. Suddenly a stranger came up to me, gave me a kiss and came up with my best piece. I thought where I ended up here. Christian Springer looked at it, came over to me and just said: ‘
Sicone with Aachen in the UEFA Cup-Cup victory against FC Bayern “Highlight”
In 2004 Sichone decided to change the wallpaper and joined the second division club Alemannia Aachen at the time. The Alemannia was allowed to start in the DFB Cup in the UEFA Cup due to its final participation and met Losc Lille, Aek Athens and FC Sevilla. “The time in Aachen was phenomenal. We made it to the Bundesliga at the time, but the cup games, nationally and internationally, were unforgettable highlights. I still know exactly how we were supported by thousands of Alemannia fans in playing in Athens against AEK. It was just cool.”
The surprising 4-2 victory in the DFB Cup round of ultimate against Bayern Munich 2006 for him, if not the greatest emotional status. “The game itself was an absolute highlight. The Bavaria came with stars like Lúcio, Sagnol and van Bommel. Our advantage was of course the old Tivoli. It was very tight and Roch was also so. The cabins were very close to each other.
The eleven of Alemannia Aachen cheered a goal in the 2006 DFB Cup against FC Bayern
His years of profier experience now passes on to the next generation. Since 2022 he has been supporting the Sambian national coach Avram Grant as an assistant. “As a player, you only have the next training session in your head, the coach takes care of everything else. Now I notice how challenging, stressful, but also very fulfilling the work as a coach. When I signed at the time, the pressure was very great because we could not qualify three times in a row. Now we are back and accordingly everyone is looking forward to this highlight,” says the former 83-fold Bundesliga professional.
In short, the Africa Cup means everything for the people in Zambia.
While the tournament traditionally started in January in the past, this year’s start is on December 21st. The major African event is an absolute football festival in particular for the players, fans and population. “In short, the Africa Cup means everything for the people in Sambia. In 2012 we have won the cup, since then there has been an even greater euphoria. The cup is comparable to the European Championship. Every game is celebrated like a festive day. First of all, we are happy to participate. The Africa-Cup experience can experience, ”emphasizes Moses Sichone at the end.
Interview and text by Henrik Stadnischenko